Inhibited or-nor gate



July 7, 1970 T. w. BERMEL 3,519,007

INHIBITED OR-NOR GATE Filed May 16, 1966 Fig.2

ENVENTOR.

Thomas WBerme/ BY/dafiigzz A TTORNE) United States Patent 0 3,519,007 INHIBITED OR-NOR GATE Thomas W. Bermel, Corning, N.Y., assignor to Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,285 Int. Cl. FlSc 1/10 US. Cl. 137-815 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluid operated logic device having monostable characteristics such that the power stream locks-on to only one sidewall with the stream being stable in only one outlet passage thereof, the device having at least one means for control fluid flow and secondary means for inhibiting normal OR-NOR functions.

Generally in a fluid amplifier, a high energy fluid stream, hereinafter referred to as the power stream issues into an interaction chamber from a nozzle or orifice constructed such that the power stream is well defined in space, which stream is directed toward a receiving aperture by the pressure distribution in the power stream boundary layer region. This pressure distribution is controlled by the wall configuration of the interaction chamber, the power stream energy level, the fluid transport characteristics, the back loading of the amplifier outlet passages, and the flow of control fluid to the boundary layer region.

In accordance with Bernoullis Theorem, the high velocity power stream issuing from the power stream orifice creates regions of low pressure adjacent the interaction chamber wall and this together with the configuration of the interaction chamber in part cause the power stream to lock-on to one side wall and remain in the locked-on condition without any control fluid flow. Control fluid flow is brought about by control fluid orifices which issue a control stream directed toward the power stream in a direction generally perpendicular thereto. In a bistable fluid amplifier, the power stream can be deflected to the opposite wall of the interaction chamber by the control stream and be caused to lockon thereto, as heretofore described, and remain there even after the control stream has been terminated. In a monostable fluid amplifier, the power stream can lockon to one wall only. It can be deflected to the opposite 0 The apparatus is provided with two outlets or fluid recovery apertures or passages facing the power stream, which outlet passages are arranged such that when the power stream is locked-on to one wall in either a bistable or monostable device, substantially all the fluid of the power stream is directed to one of the outlet passages and when it is locked-on or deflected to the other wall, as in bistable and monostable devices respectively, substantially all the fluid of the power stream is directed to the other of the outlet passages. The fluid so directed to either or both of the passages may be delivered to utilization devices as desired.

A prior art fluid OR-NOR gate, is a monostable device which has one or more control orifices at one side of the interaction chamber only. These orifices are connected to sources of fluid signals such that when a fluid flow emits from them the power stream is deflected to the other outlet passage. Thus when either one, or any other, or

all of the sources of fluid signals cause fluid flow through the control orifices, the power stream is deflected to the unstable outlet passage. This is called the OR condition since either one or another of the signal sources can deflect the power stream. When no signal is provided, the power stream flows through the stable outlet passage. This is called the NOR condition since none of the signal sources deflect the power stream.

It is an object of this invention to provide a logic fluid device which not only provides for OR-NOR functions but which provides secondary means for inhibiting such functions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a logic fluid device, the OR-NOR functions of which can be controlled by an auxiliary control.

A further object is to provide an economic logic device having wider utilization than heretofore known devices.

Broadly, according to the present invention a fluid logic device is provided having means for issuing a fluid power stream, means defining a pair of outlet passages positioned in an intercepting relationship to the power stream such that the undeflected power stream will stabilize and flow only in one of said outlet passages, that is the device is monostable, first control means positioned to deflect said power stream from that outlet passage in which the power stream will stabilize to the other of said outlet passages, and second control means positioned in opposition to said first control means.

Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and the drawing on which, by way of example, only the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the fluid operated logic device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the fluid operated logic device of the present invention.

The stream fluid may be compressible such as air, nitrogen, or other gases, or incompressible such as water or other liquids. Both the compressible or incompressible fluids may contain solid material. This invention is not limited to any particular fluid.

Referring to FIG. 1, a fluid logic device 10 is illustrated comprising plates 12 and 14 within which suitable passages or apertures are formed. The passages and internal apertures in these plates must be formed to a depth less than the plate thickness since these plates are also covers for the device. For example, the device may be formed partly in one of the plates while the balance of it is formed in the other of the plates with the plates thereafter being assembled in such a manner as to permit proper interconnection of the passages. Tubes 16, 1-8, 20, and 22 provide suitable connections to the various passages. Plates 12 and 14 are shown bonded together by fusion. For ease of description and illustration, plate 12 is shown formed of transparent material.

Plates 12 and 14 may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, glass, ceramic, plastic, or the like, and may be secured, sealed or bonded together by any suitable method well known to one familiar with the art, such as fusion of the plates together, securing the plates with screws, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2, a suitable sources of high pressure fluid, not shown, is connected to aperture 24 from which it flows through power stream orifice 26 and emerges therefrom as a well defined high energy power stream which enters interaction chamber 28. Since this is a monostable device, its configuration and arrangement of parts is such that the power stream automatically attaches to wall 30 of interaction chamber 28 and flows through outlet passage 32. There are various ways in which this may be achieved. For example, interaction chamber 28 may be formed in relation to power stream orifice 26 such that wall is closer to the stream than wall 34. In addition, splitter or divider 36 may be shaped and positioned in such manner as to direct or channel the normal flow from orifice 26 into outlet passage 32. One familiar with the art can readily determine and form the various elements so that the device will be monostable.

Control fluid orifice 38 is provided at one side wall of the interaction chamber. The power stream emerging from orifice 26 automatically flows through outlet passage 32 but can be deflected to flow through outlet passage by a control fluid flow from orifice 38. Since this is a monostable device the power stream will continue to flow through outlet passage 40 only as long as control fluid flow is available through orifice 38. When this control fluid flow ceases, the power stream will revert to its stable condition and flow through outlet passage 32. Control fluid is provided to the device through inlet signal apertures 42 and 44.

Control orifice 46 is provided at the interaction chamber in opposition to orifice 38. An auxiliary or secondary control fluid flow is provided from a suitable source connected to aperture 48 for passage of control fluid through orifice 46.

Vents 50 and 52 provide entrainment flow as the power stream flows through either outlet passage 32 or outlet passage 40 as is readily understood by one familiar with the art.

The operation of the device is as follows. A suitable source of high pressure fluid, not shown, is connected to aperture 24 and will emerge from orifice-26 into interaction chamber 28 as a power stream. As hereinabove described, the power stream will automatically lock-on to wall 30 and pass into outlet passage 32. Ordinarily outlet passage 32 would be connected to ambient although it may be connected to some utilization device when desired.

As an input fluid signal is provided to either aperture 42 or 44 or both, it will flow through control orifice 38 and cause the power stream to be deflected from outlet passage 32 to outlet passage 40 otherwise the power stream will flow through outlet passage 32. To this point the operation of the device is the same as an ordinary OR-NOR gate in that when a fluid signal is neither transmitted through inlet signal aperture 42 nor inlet signal aperture 44, the power stream will flow through NOR outlet passage 32, however, if a fluid signal is transmitted through either aperture 42 or aperture 44 or both, the power stream will be deflected to flow through OR outlet passage 40.

When it is desired to have the power stream deflected to OR outlet passage 40, not only when a fluid signal is provided to orifice 38 but also when some other predeterminedsituation or condition exists, a secondary or auxiliary control signal is provided from control orifice 46 which inhibits or overcomes the signal emitted from orifice 38, and the power stream, reverts to, or continues to flow through outlet passage 32 as if no signal were transmitted through orifice 38.

For example, if it is desired to count the useable output of a machine, the machine may be connected to either aperture 42 or 44 so as to provide a fluid signal each time an article is produced by the machine. Outlet passage 40 would be connected to a suitable counter. As each article is produced it is also tested by an apparatus which is connected to aperture 48 such that it provides a fluid signal each time a defective article is produced. As each article is produced the signal transmitted through orifice 38 would cause the power stream to be deflected to outlet passage 40 thereby causing the counter to advance. If, however, by testing apparatus senses the article is defective a secondary signal is transmitted through orifice 46 causing the power stream to remain flowing through outlet passage 32 whereby the article is not counted.

As will be understood, the auxiliary control fluid must have a pressure suflicient to overcome the force of the control flow from orifice 38. Orifice 46 is preferably formed to a larger cross section to permit sufiicient auxiliary control fluid flow.

Although the device of FIG. 2 is shown with two inlet signal apertures 42 and 44, one familiar with the art will readily see that the device of the present invention may have one or more inlet signal apertures so that any number of sources can provide suitable signals. Also it is readily seen by one familiar with the art that a plurality of auxiliary or secondary control fluid apertures 48 may be provided when it is desired to have the power stream deflected to outlet passage 40 only when a plurality of conditions are satisfied.

One familiar with the art will readily understand that the final design parameters of specific fluid devices will at least be dependent upon the fluid density, temperature, and pressure, as well as the characteristics required of the power stream at the point of utilization.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details be limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid device comprising means defining an interaction chamber including a pair of sidewalls, means for issuing a fluid power stream into said interaction chamber,

means defining a pair of outlet passages in an intercepting relationship to said power stream such that said power stream can lock-on to only one of said sidewalls and is stable when flowing through only one of said outlet passages whereby the device is monostable,

first control means positioned to deflect said power stream from the only outlet passage in which the stream is stable to the other of said outlet passages, and

second control means positioned in opposition to said first control means for selectively inhibiting deflection of the power stream to said other of said outlet passage.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for issuing a fluid power stream is an orifice.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second control means comprise two control fluid orifices positioned downstream from said means for issuing a fluid power stream, one of said orifices being disposed in one of said sidewalls and the other of said orifices being dis posed in the other of said sidewalls in opposition to said one of said orifices, both of said orifices being substantially perpendicular to said power stream.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the second control fluid orifice is of a larger cross section that the first control fluid orifice.

5. An OR-NOR gate comprising means defining an interaction chamber including a pair of sidewalls,

an orifice for issuing a well defined power stream into said interaction chamber,

means defining a pair of outlet passages positioned in an intercepting relationship to said power stream such that said power stream can lock-on to only one of said sidewalls and is stable only when flowing through one of said outlet passages whereby the device is monostable,

a fluid passage terminating in an orifice adapted to issue a first control fluid flow directed against one side of said power stream to deflect said power stream from said one of said outlet passages to the other of said outlet passages, and

a second fluid passage terminated in a second orifice adapted to issue a second control fluid flow directed against said power stream in opposition to said first control fluid flow for selectively inhibiting deflection of the power stream to said other of said outlet passage.

6. The OR-NOR gate of claim 5 wherein said first fluid passage is adapted for connection to a plurality of primary fluid inlet signal sources.

7. The OR-NOR gate of claim 5 wherein said second fluid passage is adapted for connection to a plurality of secondary fluid signal sources.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Warren et al. 137-815 XR Toma 137-815 Sowers 137-815 Dexter et al. 137-815 Bowles 137-815 Boothe et a1. 137-815 Bowles 137-815 Fox et a1 137-815 Dexter 137-8l.5

SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 519, 007 Dated July 17 lQYO Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 6U, "sources" should read--source-.

Column 3, line 16, the word --a-- was left out between "as" and "control".

Column 3, line 7 1, the word "by" should have been -the--.

Claim 4, line 1, "3" should be replaced by --2-- because Claims 2 and 3 were reversed.

Claims 1 and 5, the last word "passage" should be "passa SllrfJZJhflu um 0ST 2 am ,"fifi' z 7,: h A 1njfjz/ 6EAL Anew Wm-"numb. a ITBGEU II'ER. JR. An Offi m um of ram 

